breast feeding
I am at my witts end. Everyone keeps telling me to keep calm and i am trying my best to and fighting back tears. Its a constant struggle to get my daughter to latch on. She would latch into my right but not my left. So i would pump my left and give that to her by bottle. Well now that Shes had a bottle and she knows its easier work she will not take my breast at all. I keep getting so worked up that now when i pump i am only getting an ounce which is not enough so i end up having to supplement w formula. I feel like such a failure and dont understand what happened to my milk supply in 1 week. Any suggestions????
Also try skin to skin amd offering the breast way before she is hungry, express a tiny bit onto the nipple to het her interest and tru different holds like the football hold is good for newborns. Stop the bottle and supplementing to give her the chance to really learn (obviously dont starve baby) it takes time for both of you to learn and adjust either way you are not a failure!
Have you tried different positions?
We had latching trouble for the first few weeks. It got better eventually, it definitely takes persistence though.
Nipple Shield
Different positions
Offer preferred breast first if she won’t take the opposite side, because it will help learn and practice latching. Always BF before supplementing, for supply and so that baby doesn’t start leaning further towards the bottle.
As for increasing milk supply:
Lots and lots and LOTS of water
Lots of protein
Snack regularly throughout the day
Oatmeal
-I would have a shake everyday to help my supply: scoop or two of protein powder, two tablespoons peanut butter, scoop of oats, tablespoon of flax, a banana, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup milk, and blend it up and drink.
-Scrambled eggs with ground beef is something I also had , with two pieces of toast and tea in the mornings.
- heavy grain cereal with almond milk
Good luck
ETA: avoid green tea teas, or any variation of, it will kill your supply.
I tried the nipple shield. It worked on the one side but still not on the other. She has a tiny tongue tie and that one nipple does not stick out the same as the one she latched onto. But now that i had to pump amd feed that breasts mill to hwr by bottle she wont take rhe other side that she used to take. And now my pumping im only getting a little over an ounce amd she wants like 2 ounces. Im.drinkimg mothers milk tea and just bought a bag of oatmeal cookies for 18 bucks lol thats supposed to help but who knows. If i pump more often will that help??? Or will that mess things up more.
The same thing happened with my now 3 month old. She is too impatient with the boob. Likes the bottle better because it's fast relief but sometimes she prefers the boob, im guessing it's a comfort thing. I don't know for sure but me stressing out about it seem to make my supply drop as well. Continue to stay hydrated and pump when you are supposed to. Your supply will come back.
Ok thank you guys so much.